Germany’s Gerald Ciolek won the second stage of the Tour of Britain on Monday after pipping Sam Bennett to the finish line to become the new race leader.
MTN Qhubeka’s Ciolek and Irish rider Bennett of An Post-Chain Reaction moved past Thomas Lovkvist of IAM Cycling, who was leading with 500m to go, before the German edged out Bennett in a sprint finish to claim the victory.
The 26-year-old, who won the Milan-San Remo in March this year and came third in Sunday’s first stage in Scotland, finished in just over five hours to claim the leader’s jersey.
Britain’s Simon Yates is up to second in the general classification after coming fourth, with the riders covering 186.6km, including the race’s first Category 1 climb, on the Carlisle to Kendal stage.
Former Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins crossed the line 17 seconds off the lead for Sky Pro Cycling and is 12th overall, but there was more disappointment for Omega Pharma-Quick Step’s Mark Cavendish, who darted out in front of the leading group with 10km left, before Lovkvist started to buildup a lead with 8km to go.
Cavendish had the platform laid for him by his teammates on Sunday’s first ride from Peebles to Drumlanrig Castle, but he was boxed in and slipped off the pace. On Monday he finished a massive 47 seconds behind Ciolek.
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